Hello! There I am, left, sitting in a rather swanky restaurant after opening Ohio Comic Con on Friday, September 20th. And yes, a tequila shot was en route....Ohio Comic Con absolutely ROCKED this year. Not only did my guests include comic book legend Neal Adams, but also Oscar-nominated and award-winning actor, Sean Astin; the mega-talented genius behind SyFy's Ghost Hunters, Grant Wilson; MMA-champ and Power Rangers star, Jason David Frank; Summer Glau and Ron Glass from Firefly, Arrow and the new ABC series, Agents of Shield; Star Wars, X-Men and GI Joe star, the very charming (and totally gorgeous...) Ray Park; and last, but certainly not least, the man who continued to surprise me, Ghostbuster star, Ernie Hudson. Whew! I almost fainted when Hudson took off his black leather jacket, revealing not only hardcore pecks and abs that would make Arnold Schwarzenegger drool, but a pair of guns to match...le sigh. I also had opportunity to meet Attack of the Show's Sara Underwood--and yes, she's even more beautiful in person, hang with The Walking Dead's Michael Rooker and Norm Reedus, as well as the original Hulk, Lou Ferrigno. An unexpected but very happy surprise was meeting the host of a new SyFy show named Molly O'Connolly. This girl is one-to-watch! She lit up the room when she walked in with Grant. Her positive energy was absolutely infectious. I'm talking to Molly soon so stay tuned for more on this rising star!My own show, Vampire Myth & Supernatural Superhero Legend, went off without a hitch...well, except for the ghost. Yes, a ghost was in the room. I later talked to Grant Wilson about this, and he wished he'd had his equipment with him. But when Ernie Hudson entered the same room, all went quiet on that Western Ohio front. Another highlight was Tony Kim's Wonder Women of the 21st Century. I'm apparently one of them. The panel included hot comic book/graphic novel artist, Nen, as well as Victoria from SyFy's Heroes of Cosplay and good friend, Mexican comic book artist, Umberto Ramos. We talked about sex, and more sex...and yes, more sex. It sells, did you know??? I'll have more on Ohio Comic Con with follow ups on Grant Wilson, Ernie Hudson, Ray Park, Summer Glau & Ron Glass, JDF, and of course, the great Sean Astin--who, by the way--is THE MOST GENUINE person you'll ever meet. Until then, stay thirsty my friends....

Last month, I decided to let go, allowing the camera to do the talking. The picture, left, is the result. Letting go isn't giving up. It's the opposite. When you hold on to something, usually out of fear, you've given up on yourself. You feel there is nothing better than whatever it is you're holding on to. And that's a sad, bad place to be.When it's over, it's over. Hoping, wishing and praying for something else won't change the inevitable reality that change brings. I thrive on change. Change pushes me to be better, to improve...to never, ever settle on something just because it's familiar or comfortable. We should strive for discomfort, for the unfamiliar, because that's when we are at our most powerful. Twelve years ago, I lost use of my left leg. It was devastating. Still is. Today, every step is deliberate. Every movement of my body requires extra thought. It's not comfortable. Or familiar. Even after all these years. But it has forced me to be more resourceful than I would have been otherwise. And that's pushed me to be better in not just the physical areas of my life, but every aspect. Once I let go of my grief, I was able to go on and accomplish goals that were otherwise impossible. Like earning a Doctorate. Writing five books. Publishing more than double my age in essays. And returning to the Entertainment industry. I also bike 25-30 miles a day. Not on a traditional bike, but why does that matter? It doesn't. Because, even with only one working leg, I have done more with my body, and my life, in the last twelve years than most people with two healthy legs accomplish in a lifetime. The reason: I embraced change. Which means, I know how to let go....Doesn't mean that when change happens, it's easy to acclimate. Even for someone as practiced as me.But if we trust ourselves, facing a future that is different than we may have imagined, or wanted, is easier to do. How do you do that??? By understanding that your mind will give up long before your body. That means that when you feel like you can't do something, you can. We all can. But we give up before we even really try. We give up, because we're afraid to let go.When I look at the picture above, I see change. That beach, that sky, the entire landscape, is a product of change. And it's beautiful. Peaceful, even. Change is a gift to humanity. When we don't have the courage to make a decision, the flow of the Universe helps push us where we need to go. When you struggle against the Universal current, you will get tired. You will give up. But if you learn to accept the flow of change as a gift, you can swim for hours and never get tired. You can bike for 25-30 miles a day. You can outlast any problem. Even something as stubborn as cancer. Or disability. Or losing a job. Even the loss of a friend, or lover....So go ahead, let go of whatever it is that's holding you back. That fear of change. Of moving forward. You will not only survive if you do, you'll thrive.

You know it when you feel it. Chemistry. It's almost instantaneous. And it feels a little insane. Okay, a lot insane. But when that feeling strikes, don't hesitate. Not even for a nanosecond. Because when you're lucky enough to have chemistry with another human being, it's not something to be taken lightly. You'll regret it later if you do.We all crave companionship. It's human nature. But chemistry is altogether different. When you have chemistry, no matter what else seems to stand in the way of your relationship, you can handle it. Without that all-important chemistry, you may find that, after a time, your relationship becomes a frustrating burden instead of a joyful comfort.Chemistry is the thing that allows you to fall IN LOVE. You can love a person easily enough without it. Mutual respect and friendship go a long way there. And although a necessary part of any healthy relationship, without chemistry. that respect and friendship can turn into resentment and score-keeping pretty quickly. Once you have chemistry, you must develop that respect and friendship. If you do, you are well on your way to a successful long-term, committed relationship. Congratulations! The biggest mistake people seeking #LOVE make is settling for the first pair of pretty brown eyes that flirt in your general direction. Part of the problem is that we don't always know what chemistry is supposed to feel like. Chemistry is often thought of as nebulous, in other words, not definitive. But that's absolutely not true. People who've never felt true chemistry say that. Just because you have yet to experience it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Or, if it does exist, that it's overrated. You underrate your need for passion if you believe that. Passion isn't something we get to experience very often in life. But if you have chemistry, you can experience it daily if you want--whether you work in a cubicle all day, or sit behind a desk fielding phone calls. No matter who you are, you deserve the kind of passion only chemistry can bring. The kind you see in the picture above. Yeah, it's that good. Better. Or at least, it can be.So don't give up! And definitely don't give in. Chemistry is very possible. When you have it, the person you're into can turn you on without even saying a word. A simple text can open the flood gates. The object of your affection doesn't have to lay a finger on you for you to easily slide into ecstatic joy. You picking up what I'm putting down??? Mmmmhmmm.... If you don't yet have it, go out there and find that person who can make your body sing. No, I'm not kidding. Your life is made when you do. And if you've already found that unique person, but somehow, let them slip through your fingers? GET HER DONE, SON! Do and say whatever necessary to win that person back. If you had chemistry, it won't be hard. Because she undoubtedly misses that about you, too. Don't you want to get closer? Especially with someone who finds you equally irresistible??? The answer, in case you hesitated, is a resounding YES!!!!

Though tough to swallow, when it's time to admit you were wrong, get ready for a hearty helping of MEA CULPA. And if you live in Croatia, you can literally eat a hearty helping at Mea Culpa, a popular pizzeria in Dubrovnik. Bad joke aside, it's an important social issue. One we tend to avoid:

I was wrong. And I am very, very sorry. Though you have little reason, please forgive me. You were a better friend than I deserved. And I just wanted to say thank you for that.

Have you had to say these words? Maybe you've had to, but never got around to it? It's not easy to do, point out your flaws and how those flaws hurt another person. But it's necessary. Not only to attempt to repair social bonds that may have been broken, but also to remind yourself that though you may act crazy once in a while, you're still quite sane.

Part of the MEA CULPA, Latin for "my fault," is forgiving the self. Once you recognize your actions as hurtful, it's necessary to reach out to the injured party and acknowledge it. Acknowledgement is the one thing all humans crave. So when you do act a little nuts--which happens to the best of us--take time to not only recognize what happened to anyone involved, but what happened to you as well. Why did that happen? How did that happen? And what exactly was the context of my actions?

For many people, when we have a temporary lapse in sanity, it's just that: Temporary. A trauma occurs, like the death of a friend or relative, loss of a job, financial crisis, health issue, or something like divorce, that causes us to lose track of ourselves. We may not have even realized it. You may be fully functional, working, exercising, living your life...but I bet if you looked closely, you might see that though things seem fine on the surface, a few elements have quietly gone missing. Like cleaning your house. Or buying groceries. Or forgetting to pay your bills. And saying that these omissions occur because you are "busy" is the most convenient cover up on the planet. As an academic, I'm intimately familiar with that one. The sad part is, we tend not to pick up on the clues until it's too late. Until we've already hurt another person.

When you have wronged someone, it's time to seek forgiveness. From the one you wronged, and, yourself. If you don't receive forgiveness right away, be patient. It's part of your penance. Until you get it, say goodbye to your guilt. You don't have power beyond your own words, your own actions. Just be consistent, and perhaps, when your friend is ready, you can pick up where you left off:...

Let me just start by saying, the #LOVE advice available online pretty much SUCKS. While it's helpful to know you're not alone if you're dealing with say, a difficult break up or trying to figure out if the girl/guy you went out with last Saturday night is really into you, the online forums are not much more than a collection of gibberish from highly emotional, often unstable individuals. The next level of #LOVE advice comes from online articles from magazines like Glamour or Men's Health, and yes, even The Huffington Post has something to say. A person seeking love advice online may be sure that no matter what link you click, EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION. Even me.Who am I? Why, I'm a #LOVE doctor. Well, I'm a Ph. D. and the author of multiple books and articles all about #LOVE. I've also lived a little. Well, a lot. And in that time, let's just say I learned one or two things about #LOVE. One of those things is to ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR INSTINCTS, NOTHING and NO ONE ELSE.

Whether you broke off a relationship or someone else did, every article ever written about the subject recommends one thing: NO CONTACT. That's a very one-size-fits-all answer. And unless you came from the same cookie cutter as the other 7.2-billion people on the planet, chances are good that the "no contact" advice may not apply. When does it apply? Good question! If you are the person who ended things because your ex is psychotic and you are afraid of being harassed or some other form of mental, emotional or physical harm--no contact is for you. NO CONTACT means cutting that person COMPLETELY out of your life. Blocking them on Facebook, Twitter, removing them from your contact list on your cell phone, ignoring texts, emails, letters, post cards, and any unwanted gifts. No contact also means no sex. At all. Again, if your ex is crazy, not having sex is something you undoubtedly agree with. But what if your ex is actually a reasonable guy or gal, not a potential stalker? Do you still have to go NO CONTACT??? Absolutely not. Depending on your relationship, you may even need to stay in touch. You may be business partners, share custody of kids or pets or both, and it's very likely you share at least a few friends.The other issue with NO CONTACT is that, sometimes, your relationship ends because one or the other person sees roadblocks--NOT because the two individuals involved aren't compatible. You may have gotten along really well. You thought the same way about the same things. You were well-matched sexually. You found each other attractive. So what went wrong? Road blocks. Usually, those encumberments are provided, not by the couple, but by well-meaning friends and/or family. What kind of road blocks? Here are a few that come up more often than not:1) When one person in the relationship has a health issue, there will always be a friend or relative to plant the seeds of doubt about the viability of being with someone who is "sick." First of all, everyone is human, so everyone is vulnerable to illness. Even you. Let's say you meet and marry a "healthy" person. Ten years down the road, that person is diagnosed with cancer, or maybe gets in a car accident and loses a limb. Or perhaps is diagnosed with a debilitating disease, like MS. Or, you are. Does cancer or disability or some other health issue make you unlovable? Should you cloister yourself in some Abbey, never expecting human contact again??? That's absurd. And so is denying the chance for #LOVE with someone you really like because of it. The bottom line: A person's health is not a reason to break up, or even be concerned. If you like that person, have found common ground, and are sexually attracted to them, GO FOR IT. Fuck everyone else. Not literally...um, well, you know what I mean....2) The person you really like, and who really likes you, is still in a relationship. That one gives most of us pause. And I'm not saying go out and break up marriages. But I am saying that if you meet a person who is attached, and the individual is still open to a relationship with you, GO FOR IT. Fuck the "bro code" or whatever other EXCUSE you'd like to use. Karma will not come back and haunt you for pursuing #LOVE with someone really great. Especially if things evolve organically, meaning, it wasn't expected or deliberate. Your friends will tell you there are other fish in the sea. But again, #LOVE is never a coincidence. When you really click with someone, feel like YOU NOT ONLY WANT THAT PERSON BUT NEED HER (or him) and THAT PERSON FEELS THE SAME WAY ABOUT YOU, go for it. Never look back. If the potential love of your life is in a relationship already but is open to you, it's because the old relationship is ending. Not because of you either. Our society tends to think linearly, or in long, straight lines. But #LOVE doesn't work that way. Neither should you.3) AGE. This one is usually a problem only if the woman in the relationship is older than her male companion. But it's actually NOT A PROBLEM. Society makes it that way though. Older men can have at it with younger gals--you see it all the time. And it's not frowned upon at all. But if a 25-year old guy is interested in a 38-year old woman, the social feedback sounds something like this, "Hey man, what if you fall in love...can she even have kids anymore? I wouldn't go down that road." Or, my personal favorite: "She's a total MILF but still, dude, a cougar? You can do better than that. She'll be like, 53, when you're 40." Older women are great for younger men for lots of reasons, not the least of which is that, much of the time, older gals are accomplished professionals with their own monies, home, etc. A younger guy does not need to worry about supporting her. She's also very comfortable with her body. Translation: GREAT SEX. Kids? Lots of women can have them well into their 40's these days. And the age-thing? Women who take care of themselves can look 10-20 years younger today thanks to good nutrition, better skin care options, and exercise. Especially women over 35. Because they can afford all of those things and more. 4) The gal that makes your heart absolutely sing (and a few other parts, too...) lives a three-hour car ride away. Even if it were a six-hour car ride away, when there is a #LOVE connection, don't break it because you're lazy. Two years ago, my cousin, a native New Yorker, married a man who lives in central Florida. Both had jobs that could not be transferred. Guess what? The two commute. Yes, commute. Between New York and Florida. Not everyday, of course, but every other weekend. So each spends two weekends a month traveling. And both work remotely for one week a month. That's 20/30 days a month where the two are completely together. I think they might spend more time as a couple than couples who live in the same house! It's not ideal, but #LOVE is worth the effort. And if you're lucky enough to have a possible #LOVE connection with someone who is only a two- or three-hour car ride away (versus plane ride), you'd better GO FOR IT. Because, in terms of hurdles, that's not really a big one to jump. Anyone who says different is jealous, or in love with you, or both. 5) The guy or girl you're into has a child. This is another Homer Simpson moment: D'oh! Who cares???!!! Kids are great; they're fun. Think of all the cool things you can do as couple that you wouldn't normally do if you were both single, like go apple picking, pumpkin picking, get your picture taken with Santa, go to the Science Museum, playgrounds, ice cream runs, animated movies, baseball games...there are more pros than cons when it comes to kids and dating. So don't let it intimidate you. You can also see it as an opportunity to try out your own parenting skills. But there's always going to be someone ready to throw the wet blanket over your party, making comments like, "I wouldn't want to get involved with that," or "Do you want to raise someone else's kid?" Guess what? There are lots of step-fathers and mothers out there who absolutely #LOVE their step-kids. Lots of adopted parents, too. So, if you've recently broken off a potential #LOVE connection for any of the above reasons, NO CONTACT IS A NO-GO. Get back in touch, pronto! Don't let #LOVE pass you by, settling for someone else just because it's easier or more convenient. That will DEFINITELY come back to haunt you later. #LOVE is worth the effort. Believe me. When people talk about regrets at the end of their lives, it's usually about not pursuing a #LOVE connection. No matter the reason, and regardless of marrying someone else and living a long life, the one that got away doesn't always have to slip through your fingers. And usually, you know it. Think it's too late? Might be. But you won't know if it is sitting here, reading this blog. MAKE CONTACT! The worst that can happen is that the other person says no. If you're already broken up, then nothing changes. And if the answer is, "Yes, I'd love to meet you for drinks some Friday," then your life is made. You at least owe it to yourself to see that potential #LOVE connection through. If you meet for that drink, and the something you had seems lost--no harm, no foul. But in my books, #LOVE always wins. And I'd like to help people achieve that in real life, too. DON'T THROW AWAY A REAL CONNECTION. BECAUSE TRUE CONNECTIONS ARE RARE. AND SO ARE THE PEOPLE WE HAVE THEM WITH....

We are all fools for love. How could we not be? Love is the very reason our world exists. The entire global economic system depends on it. So does the housing market. The food industry. Fashion. Entertainment. Cars. Utilities. It's all for #LOVE.So when we put ourselves out there, and take a BIG RISK, only to be rejected--sometimes, more than once by the same person (the rules of baseball apply--keep it to no more than three strikes)--it's something we can ALL relate to. And it's hard, even after three strikes, to not look back and wonder....Timing is important in life, and yes, in love, too. But if you made a real connection, it doesn't just evaporate. So when you feel like you've been a fool for love, that your big risks weren't recognized or rewarded by someone who perhaps had less to lose, know that even if you feel rejected, it wasn't you. I know, I know...everyone likes to blame-shift in love. Hey, you know that you may have made some mistakes. And you may have even taken responsibility for it. But the person you love shut you out anyway. Even your mea culpa InMail on LinkedIn was declined and rated "inappropriate." But you put yourself out there. There's no shame in that. It takes courage. You were honoring yourself by honoring your heart. It's the other person who isn't honoring theirs. Or yours. How do you know? Read on:If you have made attempts to talk to a lost love, just to make things right, and your former friend vehemently rejects your apologies--even your gratitude--it's because that person STILL CARES for you. Their pride, and perhaps anger, is getting the best of them. And that's sad. Pathetic, even. Because their best should be saved for love, even if it's not with you. Though you may feel pathetic and sad given the number of times you reached out (and were rejected...ouch), you're not. The Stoics were some of my favorite philosophers--also suckers for love, by the way. Epictetus was a slave, a disabled slave. His life was awfully hard. In fact, every step he took was difficult. Marcus Aurelius, however, was a king. A man who sat on a cushion every day he ruled. His steps were easy. Yet both men, from two different worlds, believed the same thing:"Your life is what your thoughts make it."Only you can control your thoughts. And if you're feeling badly about what you perceive is a lost connection, change your mind. It's not lost. If it were, that declined InMail would have been ignored. To decline takes effort. Thought. Feeling. To rate an InMail takes even more. And the emotion behind both actions speaks of anger, not apathy. Why anger? Because it costs most people $10 to send an InMail (unless you've been given 10 free InMails for being a good customer...). And by declining it and rating it "inappropriate," your lost love was making a very deliberate statement. True, your LinkedIn InMail "rating" and loss of a $10-bill isn't much of a sting, but it's meant to get your attention. That's not the motivation of someone who doesn't care. That's someone who does. A lot. Passion is still passion, even if it's not used for love. So, when you look back and feel like you've been a fool for love, just remember that it is the party still shutting you out who is being foolish. Because that person is unable to express their real feelings. Out of pride. Out of anger. Out of fear. Take your pick. But if you remain consistent, one day, you may hear from that person again. And then, it's up to you. Because time really does heal all wounds, however deep. And that connection you still feel? Clearly still there for you both. Or you wouldn't be getting attempts to hurt you when all you've done is try to make things right. The other party's communication issue speaks of self-sabotage, or, self-punishment. Perhaps that person feels ugly or unworthy in some way. They do not believe themselves your equal and think, "It will never work out anyway." Not because that statement is true, but because the other party has allowed fear to prompt their perspective. To their own detriment. And yours.That kind of behavior can be toxic, meaning, it's poisonous to the individual perpetuating it, and, everyone around them. Including you. Justifying behaviors or "natural reactions" on wrong-thinking (being judgmental, i. e. distrusting) is destructive. It's the mentality of perpetual victims--of losers, not winners. The people who are fools for love, those of us who RISK EVERYTHING? We are not victims. We are proactive. We are winners. And if you lost someone you cared about, someone you loved, know that even if you made mistakes, you did not do wrong. Mistakes are just that. Mistakes. A lack of deliberation is implied in the very word. So their judgment/distrust of you, the thing that lead to their fear, anger, and ultimately, the end of your relationship, is not a punishment, or, a reflection of your poor emotional IQ. It only reflects that the party who made a unilateral decision, likely claiming to have been victimized in some way, is actually a LOVE-COWARD. Love-cowards don't always belong with lions. They're cattle, even if they have horns. And what of us lions? We are open, generous, and live with unmatched ferocity. We're worth the effort. Which means, if a person we care about doesn't agree, it's time to LIVE OUR BEST LIFE anyway. Because, unless you know something I don't, we only have the one....

We can't all be Neo in The Matrix, stopping bullets just by raising our hand. Though it would be really nice if we could. Because it's easier to take risks with that power, especially in love. When the love-bullet pierces your heart, you can't get out of the way fast enough. Nothing hurts as much as lost love, except perhaps the rejection that precedes it. Even though it feels like you've been sucker-punched, when you start to breath again, hit the RESET button.If someone broke your heart this summer (or anytime throughout the year), grieve for the loss. You have to. When you care about another person and that person is no longer there, it's very lonely. And sad. Your chest softly clenches causing a sensation that goes deep into your stomach. Your eyes are blurry from all the tears so it's hard to see that blinking red button begging to be pushed. But it's still there. RESET doesn't mean go backwards. It means MOVE FORWARD. I will say this one time, so listen closely: If another person was careless with your love, they DID NOT DESERVE IT (or you!) in the first place. But you do. You deserve love. From someone who will appreciate all the wonderful things you have to offer. The person who broke your heart? An ingrate. And gratitude is necessary in order for someone to have the other extremely important love-component: Eagerness.When we are grateful for having love in our lives, we are also eager to do and say things that support the person who loves us. That's how it works. There are no unilateral decisions. You share your bodies, your minds, your resources, your money, your time, and your energy. Even your bed. Likely your bathroom, too. You share memories, food, family, and friends. But sometimes, one person makes a decision that is not shared, for reasons that are also rather individual. There are many situations in which this occurs, so there's no one-size-fits-all answer. But no matter the reason, the person being rejected, the one left behind, has to somehow pick up the pieces of their broken heart. Not an easy feat. Which means, it's time to reset!Jewish philosophy discusses how, at least one complete 24-hour period out of 365 days, a person should meditate on projecting light into the next 364 ahead. A broken heart echoes disappointment, anger, frustration, loneliness, sadness, and isolation. If this has happened to you, take one day--from sundown one night to sundown the next--and do not eat. Drink only water. Meditate. You can relive the last year a little. Indulge in your lost love. Look closely though if you do. Who was that person, really? If the individual cut you out of his/her life, no matter how much you loved them, that person is just not right for you. And I am truly, madly, and deeply sorry you had to learn this fact in such a painful way. But now that you know the hard-truth, project light into your future. What do I mean by "projecting light"? Imagine new possibilities, new friends, new activities, like travel, and yes, new love. Infuse those visions with joy, with cheer, with fun, with playfulness, with laughter, with great sex, and of course, with love. In other words, project light.You are lovable. And when you project light into the next year of your life, you will attract the RIGHT PERSON. The wrong one is gone. And believe it or not, you will be thankful for it. You dodged a bullet. Like Neo. No red or blue pills needed. No Agent Smith to thwart your efforts. You can start fresh, a new adventure. One that will be 100-times greater than the last. Because when you take your first step, you have already moved your life forward. One-step closer to REAL LOVE, leaving THE DUMMY (as in, an empty shell, but the other definition undoubtedly applies, too) behind. Where he or she belongs.You will break your fast with a light meal (think hearty salad or soup) at the end of the 24 hours. After properly hydrating, go to bed early. You may have strange dreams that night, but try to write down as many as you can remember the next morning. There will be clues about your year ahead you may want to refer back to. Next, write a TO-DO list and put FALL IN LOVE at the very top. Because even though it can bring pain, in the end, #LOVE always wins. You will, too, when you hit the RESET button on your life. Whoever it is who broke your heart, let that person be the keeper of his or her own misery. You are now free. To find what you deserve. Is real #LOVE like the mythical unicorn, an impossible dream? Absolutely not. Because you exist, so does your other half. They're waiting. Now, go find them....

"Thank you" is a phrase translated in every language. That's because, as humans, we are vulnerable. And not just because of our mortality. The human psyche continues to evolve throughout our lifetime. Which makes life fairly complex. What seems right today will seem entirely wrong tomorrow. And the people we consider our friends, our family, our lovers, are all just people. Disappointment is bound to occur. But sometimes, an unexpected friend makes an appearance. That person may help you through a difficulty, or perhaps even protect you from yourself. Maybe the gift is simply letting you know that someone else on the planet is thinking of you, across land and sea, over a 7-hour flight away.... Those unique individuals help keep us all going. Because even Madonna feels alone once in a while. You may look like you're at the top of your game, and maybe you are, but on the inside fear of failure and feelings of rejection run rampant. The cure? Human contact. Another person reaching out and saying, "Hey, I care about you." When it happens, it feels a bit like a miracle. For all I know, it may be. Whatever the reason, it's wonderful. And welcome. So this short essay is in gratitude for all the lovely people out there who make a difference just by being in the right place at the right time. It can be any one of us. We are all miracles waiting to happen. You may have already been that person for someone else. And you will be again. So will I.To the now over 325,000+ people who read my blog, visit my site, buy my books, and take the time to see me at Comic Con, THANK YOU! You are my miracle. You, and a few special friends, make life worth living. Every. Single. Day. In the words of the scholar, author, and teacher, Joseph Campbell, "Follow your bliss." For when you do, you will put yourself on the path to not only helping yourself, but helping others, too. And that is the very definition of greatness....

A devout Christian, C. S. Lewis believed our ultimate reward came after death in the Kingdom of Heaven. Not many people connect Lewis's theological beliefs with his inspiring words. When you do, it's not so inspiring, is it? But even if Lewis was looking upward instead of onward, we here on Earth can move forward without fear. Because even if Lewis intended his words for the soul, the sentiment is just as true for the body. One of my previous students came to visit me in New York last month; Kenn now lives in Boston so it was a real treat. During the visit, I had the rare opportunity of seeing the student become the teacher. The longer some of us walk the Earth, the easier it is to get lost. In recent years, I have overcome more than I can say here. But that doesn't mean my life-GPS is fully functional. Frankly, it just means I'm tough as hell. So when my former student reversed our typical roles, and encouraged me to move forward despite my fears, it reminded me of C. S. Lewis and his famous quote: "Don't focus on the regrets of the past, instead, look at all the AWESOME ahead...." In two weeks, I'll be standing on stage with audiences as large as 1,800 people performing seven shows in three days. I will entertain the crowds, make them laugh, make them cheer, make them clap. I will share the stage with Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated talents; those same talented people will smile at me, hug me, thank me. And I will do it all over again the next month and the next, and the next. And yet, four years ago, I could barely get out of bed.So when Kenn offered me his sage advice, I knew he was telling the truth. Because I've already lived it. My life today has improved 100-fold because I chose not to focus on the past, but instead believe that there was something far, far better in my future. Why? I have no idea, and it's never the relevant question anyway. The better question is, "Why not?" Why not imagine that the road ahead will take us tomorrow to where we can only imagine today??? What are you leaving behind but memories? Change has already happened, even if you haven't caught up to it yet. Kenn reminded me of that very important detail. Evolution doesn't stop. And neither do you. You are constantly evolving, even those who don't like change are still changing. To deny it is to deny yourself forward momentum. When you pretend change isn't happening, you create a misery-vacuum, and everyone connected to your life gets sucked in. To climb out again is extraordinarily difficult. A fresh new hell, but here on Earth. Perhaps C. S. Lewis wasn't so wrong after all? Perhaps we do move toward heaven when we leave the past where it belongs...in the past.

See The #PopCultureProfessor Perform LIVE at Wizard World's OHIO COMIC CON September 20-22, 2013 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center and in Nashville, October 18-20th, followed by Austin, November 22-24, 2013! Are YOU #PopCultureProfessor APPROVED??? Lady GaGa is.... ;)

Rumors are a product of what I call "social scrutiny." The Trial of SocialScrutiny should be added to Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey. Because it's not always easy to survive. And it's definitely an inevitable factor in the human equation. Rumors are so toxic, they can absolutely ruin reputations, and that's not all.... As a teen, rumors are one of the easiest forms of bullying. It's not fun to be the subject of a rumor, but it's survivable. Though that's not always the case. Middle school and high school rumors have been at the root of a number of teen suicides in recent years. It may seem like an extreme reaction, until you've been victimized by a rumor. As an adult, the rumor mill can cause people irreparable hardship, like losing the ability to earn. Reputations are like glass--once broken, it can never be the same again. People will always look at you with suspicion. There will be a permanent question mark associated with your name, and any work you do. It's almost impossible to come back from. And that's just on a professional level. Imagine the devastation a rumor can have on someone's personal life.When someone is the subject of a rumor, that person relies on close friends and family to not believe the spreading disease of lies, but instead, stand firm in their belief of the victimized individual. Especially when it comes to #LOVE.But sometimes, we still find ourselves alone in a crowded room after a rumor. So why do rumors get started in the first place? Besides boredom, and of course, the desire among 67% of the population to spread misery???Let's talk about sex, baby. No, really. When you're a woman who likes it, wants it, and is unapologetic about it, the Trial ofSocial Scrutiny can begin at any time. Social media doesn't help there. If you post something--anything--that has even one of Maxim's "100 Words That Imply Sex", you're either looked at as a predator, or worse, prey. What are these horrible words? One of them is "necessary." Apparently, it's another term for vagina. Even national monuments are no longer sacred. "Eiffel Tower" is a sexual reference to a two males-one female threesome. God forbid you make the same mistake I did a few months ago and post a pic of the Eiffel Tower on your Facebook timeline! Oh, I feel so dirty.... ;)But it's not just gal-pals that have to sweat out the rumor-mill. Guys can get a hearty helping as well. Although, it's never as bad. Simply because there are no nasty words to describe males with a keener interest in sex. It's actually a compliment if you are! You're not a slut or a whore; you're a pimp, or better yet, a player-pimp (especially if you walk with a limp).Bottom line: Rumors are unnecessary, divisive, destructive propaganda meant to cause harm. By entertaining gossip, you become a party to the pain caused by promoting a particular rumor. And though people in your circle may forgive and forget, Karma won't.

About the Author

Rebecca Housel, Ph.D., known as "The Pop Culture Professor" (TM), is an international best-selling author and editor in nine languages and 100 countries. Rebecca, listed in the Directory of American Poets & Writers for her work in nonfiction, was nominated by Prevention magazine essayist and best-selling author of The ImmortalLife of HenriettaLacks, Rebecca Skloot, to the National Association of Science Writers for her work on cancer. Rebecca has published with best-selling author of The Accidental Buddhist, Dinty Moore's literary nonfiction journal, Brevity, and with commercial publications like Redbook magazine and online journals like In Media Res. Her recent interviews appear in publications such as the LA Times, Esquire, USA TODAY, The Huffington Post, Inside HigherEd, Woman's World magazine, and Marie Claire as well as on FOX news, and NBC. Former President of the New York College English Association, Housel was a professor in both Atlanta and New York, teaching popular culture, film, creative writing, literature, and medical humanities. Dr. Housel currently works on the Editorial Advisory Boards for the Journal of PopularCulture and the Journal ofAmerican Culture; she has also worked as a reviewer for Syracuse University Press and Thomson Wadsworth. A writer of all genres, Housel has written and published both fiction and nonfiction in over ten books and 398 articles, essays, book chapters, book reviews, and encyclopedia entries.